Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-22
HEALTH AND HAPPINESS.
THE CORSET AND THE BLSTLE REAL
BLESSINGS IF PROPERLY USED.

What Lady Physician Says in Defensa
of the So Called Fashionable FoIliei
of Her Sex Mistakes Which Mer
Make.
eff an ultra fashionable young man and q
maiden of the same kind, both in full walking
costume, were to start from the Knicker
booker club house on Fifth avenue and race
down to Delmonico's, which one would w;nT
was the question put by prominent lady
physician to group of people who were talk
ing about dress reforms, the derided skirt and
kindred topics the other day.
Every one present gave up the conundrum
but they all agreed with the originator of il
when she declared that the girl, notwithstand
ing her veil, her close fitting gown, her hustle
and her muff would win against the youth
with his hat likely to fly off at the first rush.
his collar choking him SO that he could not
see, bis heavy cane, his tight boots and his
wide trousers tapping about his ankles
Those who have any other idea should test ii
by trial.
'Dress reform" exclaimed the irate little
physician, who has gained a reputation as one
of the best practitioners in the city. 1.-The
truth of the matter is that most women dress
with as much regard to the laws of health as
do the men. The former have reformed, the
later are degenerating, or how else do you &C.
count for the pointed shoes, the stays, the high
collars and the stove pipe hats that men wearl
IL woman in general is not so healthy as man,
it is not on account of her clothes, of that |
feel certain. But l am of the opinion that
the women of New York are twice AZ healthy
as the men,
go to the opera, TO any church or assem-
bly,. What do you see9 Men sallow and lean;
men bald headed and pasty looking, or men
so stout and unwieldy, so red and uncomfort-
able looking that it makes one uncomfortable
to look at them But you see five women out
of every ten rosy and plump, erect in car
riage, bright of eye, and altogether charm
ingly healthy. These are the so called fash
ionable women, whom Lady Habberton,
Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Mrs. Miller, and a
dozen other reformers are constantly crying
down as running the future race and their
own health
"Of course there are many articles of wear
ing apparel that could be improved" she con-
tinued, "but the corsets, the hustle and skirts,
against which the reformers and men are
constantly crying out, are real blessings if
only used properly, and the majority of wo-
men nowadays know how to wear them.
Twenty OF thirty years ago it was different.
Eighteen inch waists were considered neces-
sary for beauty, slippers were worn on all
occasions, or shoes with pasteboard soles, and
the enormous head dresses and bonnets were
something atrocious."
"How do the women Of to day dress better
than their mothers and grandmothers!"
queried reporter present.
WELL" said the little physician, "there is
no reason why should not be plain. In the
first place, the old fashioned chemise, with its
multitude of gathers has gone entirely out of
fashion Women who wear the garment at
all have it mad3in the French fashion, with
cores and seams, and as a consequence the
corset, which is worn next to it, does not
press the gathers and wrinkles about the
waist and hips But the majority of women
wear the little gauze, flannel, cashmere or
silk vests, which have come in of late years
and are woven to fit the form, while not at
all hampering it. For winter wear there are
the combination garments of flannel made all
in one piece, and clothing one from neck to
ankles most comfortably.
"No, l will not admit that the corset of
itself is injurious" said the lady, most ener-
getically. Brandy is injurious if one takes
too much of it, but it is excellent in many
cases. So it is with the corset. If of the
proper kind and worn properly it is one of the
greatest boons to womankind. The steel
ribbed corsets worn by some few, l will
admit, are quite dreadful; but the woven and
what is known as the health corset are most
desirable. They are so yielding that they fit
the form, and yet support and protect it.
They are provided with shoulder straps, and
all the skirts may be fastened to them or to
one of the new skirt supporters worn over
them. If a woman laces she generally suffers
for her folly, as men do from smoking or
drinking. But very few women lace nova
days 1t is not the fashion to have an a bnor-
mally small waist, and | don't think it will
be-"
But you must admit that the hustle is a
most injurious and uuhealthful article of
wearing apparel" said a gentleman who was
present.
@Oh, no, never." she exclaimed "Bustles
are the salvation of many women Men have
such erroneous ideas of many things You
will admit that ten men to every one woman
dies of some disease Of the kidneys or liver
Yesa Well, then, women must thank the
much abused hustle for keeping them free of
such trouble. How! The hustle of wire, of
steel, or of any of the light airy materials of
which 1t is now made, worn under the skirts
keeps the small of the back from becoming
too heated, and consequently the circulation
is better and the kidneys and liver healthier
The hustle also supports the skirts and holds
the dress in such fashion that walking and
running are made easier.
The physician assured the reporter that
few women wear more than two underskirts
at this season of the year. "Our grand.
mothers wore four and five, some of them of
quilted flannel, too, SO we have reformed in
that matter"
but of what value are the bonnets and
bats Worn by women!' said the gentleman
who ran down the hustle. "They are trump
Ey little things of lace and ribbon, aud no
protection whatever
AGo look in the mirror and see what YOUR
sensible hat that fits the head and keeps out
the air has done for you" exclaimed the stern
lecturer The gentleman obeyed and saw a
head quite bald
"A hat or bonnet should be an ornament.
not protection. The hair is the natural COW
ering for the head. Women realize this and
keep their hair Men go about puffed up with
the Importance of their superiority in wear
ing sensible hats and get bald before they
are 40; then they say it is brain work that
does it.N-New York Journal
little linSeed oil brushed over faded green
blinds will, if they are not too far gone, make
them look almost as good as new.
Do not use coal of lamps in bedrooms with
wick turned down low. They produce asthma,
heart disease, throat disease, etc.